Master Lift Foundation Repair 918-565-8544 Don't wait 2, 3 or even 4 months to repair your foundation! We have a two to three week guarantee or you will receive up to 5% off your foundation repair quote! That's right! If we can't get to you within two weeks then we will discount your entire invoice up to 5%! Time is of the essence with foundation repair. Don't Wait, Call Today For Your Free No Obligation Foundation Repair Quote.

When it comes to choosing which type of structural steel materials would be best for your Foundation Repair project, there can be a number of things that will affect what material you will actually use. Budget can be a big factor, but when it comes to choosing the best material for your Home Foundation Repair project, there are many other things to consider before you make your final decision.

Galvanized steel is a type of steel that has been treated with an application of protective zinc coating to help prevent it from rusting. Galvanization is the process that is used to apply the zinc to the steel, through the use of electrochemical and electrodeposition processes. The most common means of galvanizing the steel available today through your local steel supply in Tulsa, is through what is known as hot-dip galvanization. The Steel Foundation Pier materials are submerged into a vat of hot, molten zinc to form a protective coating.

There are many different uses for galvanized steel in a number of industries. Some of the most common places that you will find galvanized steel is in residential and commercial air ducts or as the material used to create durable, long-lasting trash cans. Galvanized steel should be used anywhere rust protection is required, such as wrought iron gates, handrails, safety barriers, roof flashing, appliances, body parts for vehicles and Structural Repair Materials.Reason #1 – Low Initial Cost
Galvanized steel costs less than other types of treated steel. Other typical coatings, such as specialized painting, are much more labor-intensive, resulting in a higher initial cost for contractors.Reason #2 – Low Maintenance
You will save money up front and save money for the long term with galvanized steel. This material requires much less maintenance than other types of coated steel, saving you time and money that would be lost to repairs or replacement.Reason #3 – Reliable Performance
The coating that comes from galvanizing steel helps to increase the durability of the finished product. Even the standard, minimum coating thickness will work to improve performance, making the materials much more reliable and predictable.Reason #4 – Long Lasting
Testing and studies have revealed that the average life expectancy for galvanized steel used as a typical structure material is well beyond 50 years in a rural environment and 20-25 years or more in an extreme urban or coastal setting. Contractors can confidently use this product knowing that it will stay reliable for many years to come.Reason #5 – Self Healing
The galvanized coatings used on American steel contains an automatic protection for areas that become damaged. The coating corrodes preferentially to the steel, working as a sacrificial protection to any areas of the steel that are exposed through damage and exposure. Small areas that become damaged will not need a touch up, unlike organic-based coatings.Reason #6 – Total Protection
The method used to galvanize steel ensures that every part of the material is protected, including sharp corners and recesses that would be very difficult to coat in any other manner. Absolutely no other coating used in the steel industry today or any type of post-fabrication alteration can provide the same level of protection.Reason #7 – Resistant Coating
The coating itself has a very unique structure that helps it to be extremely resistant to damage. The galvanization process protects the steel from damage that can occur during transportation, installation and service.Reason #8 – Easy Use
Unlike other structural steel materials, galvanized steel is immediately ready for use when it is delivered. No additional preparation of the surface is required, no time-consuming inspections, additional painting or coatings are needed. Once the structure is assembled, contractors can immediately begin the next stage of construction without having to worry about the galvanized steel materials.Reason #9 – Quick Turnaround
When you place your order for galvanized steel at your local steel supply company in Tulsa, you can rest assured that your materials will be available when you need them. A complete coating can be applied to the steel in just minutes and is not dependent on weather conditions, making it easy for suppliers to provide their customers with all the Galvanized Steel they need to get the job done.Reason #10 – Simple Inspection
When it comes to making an inspection of the materials that you have received, it is easy to quickly tell just by looking at the product that the galvanized coating has been properly applied. A simple round of thickness testing methods can also be used to verify that the coating is sound and continuous.Galvanized Steel Foundation Repair Piers | Lifetime Transferable Warranty | Master Lift
If you are looking for the highest quality Foundation Repair pier available in the Tulsa, Oklahoma market, contact Master Lift Foundation Repair. Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Master Lift Foundation Repair has a wide variety of Steel Foundation Repair products and professional services to offer. Contact Master Lift Foundation Repair today at (918) 565-8544 to find out more about our high quality Foundation Repair systems available. Ask about our Master Pier system and receive a discount of 5% on your Foundation Repair project.

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Using Piers to Fix Concrete FoundationsHow push & helical piers are used to raise & support a failing foundation

Piling or Piering is the technique of driving steel pipe pilings to remedy failing building foundations and to correct foundation settlement.

Push Piers consist of sections of galvanized or epoxy-coated steel pipe that are driven into the soil with a hydraulic ram.

Helical Piers use screw piles with steel shafts. The lead section, with one or more helixes attached, provides the needed bearing capacity. The piers are screwed into the ground with a hydraulic torque motor.

With either system, one or more steel piers are driven to rock or a suitable soil bearing layer and are connected to the foundation through a metal head assembly or steel shims are used underneath the center of the stem wall and between the pier. Once a suitable bearing stratum is reached, each pile is tested to a force greater then required to support the structure. Hydraulic jacks attach to the embedded steel piers and are used to raise the foundation back to its original elevation. Piers also offer an affordable solution for decks, porches, patios, hot tubs as well as pre-fab buildings.

Advantages of Piers on Concrete Foundations

Learn the benefits of repairing a foundation with piers

The benefits of using piers to repair a foundation are as follows:

Low cost. Up to ten times less than replacing the building foundation.

No disruption or loss of use of the dwelling. The repair is performed with the building being used as normal.

The equipment is portable and can be easily used in tight spaces or carried by hand where access is a problem.

Remedies both the cause of the settlement (unstable soil) and the consequences (dwelling out of level) in one step.

No yard destruction

No heavy equipment

Piering Installation

The typical steps for using piers to fix a foundation

The steps in the piering process are as follows:

A 3'x4' excavation is made adjacent to foundation and approximately 10" below the grade beam.

Soil is scraped from the footing bottom and the foundation is chipped smooth to ensure proper fit of support bracket or steel shims.

Starter and pier sections are advanced to refusal at an average penetrating power of 50,000 pounds of total driving force.

The last pier section is a concrete cylinder supported by concrete head.

When the structure has been raised to the desired height the steel shims are attached to the pier column and the stem wall.

When the structure is secure, depth, pressure and elevation readings are recorded for each pier.

The excavated soil is replaced and compacted.

Shrubbery and concrete removed for the pier installation is replaced.

Concrete Push Piers

Hydraulic foundation repair piers

Push piers are hydraulically driven pier systems consisting of sections of galvanized or epoxy-coated steel pipe. The piers are point bearing and driven with a hydraulic ram through unstable soils to rock or load bearing strata. Each pier is then individually load tested, and the structure is stabilized with a patented uniform system to insure maximum practical recovery. For the piering system driven by the hydraulic ram, equal bearing strata is assumed to be reached when the jacking load equals the steel pier capacity. This system, like the Helical Pier system, has been shown to successfully support structures in virtually all soil conditions, and can be used for stabilizing foundations and slabs built on questionable soil, as well as seismic protection, tieback anchoring, deadman anchoring and fixture anchoring. It may be successfully installed even in tight areas.

Helical Piers

How steel piles are used for foundation repair

Helical piers use screw piles with steel shafts. The lead section, with one or more helixes attached, provides the needed bearing capacity. The piers are screwed into the ground with a hydraulic torque motor, and extensions without helixes are added during driving. For the helical pier application, load capacity is determined from the torque measurements obtained from the installation equipment. This system has been shown to successfully support structures in virtually all soil conditions, and can be used for stabilizing foundations and slabs built on questionable soil, as well as seismic protection, tieback anchoring, deadman anchoring and fixture anchoring. It may be successfully installed even in tight areas.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Expansive Soil and Expansive Clay

The hidden force behind basement and foundation problems

What is an "Expansive Soil"?

Expansive soils contain minerals such as smectite clays that are
capable of absorbing water. When they absorb water they increase in
volume.
The more water they absorb the more their volume increases. Expansions
of ten percent or more are not uncommon. This change in
volume can exert enough force on a building or other structure to
cause damage.

Cracked foundations, floors and basement walls are typical types of damage done
by swelling soils. Damage to the upper floors of the building can occur
when motion in the structure is significant.

Expansive soils will also shrink when they dry out. This shrinkage can remove
support from buildings or other structures and result in
damaging subsidence. Fissures in the soil can also develop.
These fissures can facilitate the deep penetration of water when moist
conditions or runoff occurs. This produces a cycle of shrinkage and
swelling that places repetitive stress on structures.

How Many Buildings are at Risk?

Expansive soils are present throughout the world and are known
in every US state. Every year they cause billions of dollars in damage. The
American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that 1/4 of all homes in the United
States have some damage caused by expansive soils. In a typical year in the United States
they cause a greater financial loss to property owners than earthquakes, floods,
hurricanes and tornadoes combined.

Even though expansive soils cause enormous amounts of damage most
people have never
heard of them. This is because their damage is done slowly and can not
be attributed to a specific event. The damage done by expansive soils
is then attributed to poor construction practices or a misconception
that all buildings experience this
type of damage as they age.

Expandable, Shrink-Swell, Heavable Soils?

Expandable soils are referred to by many names. "Expandable soils", "expansive clays",
"shrink-swell soils" and "heavable soils" are some of the many names used for these materials.

Expansive Soils Map

The map below shows the geographic distribution of soils which are known to have
expandable clay minerals which can cause damage to foundations and structures.
It also includes soils that have a clay mineral composition which can potentially cause damage.

How to Interpret the Map

The map above is meant to show general trends in the geographic distribution of
expansive soils. It is not meant to be used as a property evaluation tool.
It is useful for learning areas where expansive soils underlie a significant
portion of the land and where expansive soils might be a localized problem.

All construction projects should include a soil analysis to identify the types
of soil present and determine their expansive properties. Local occurrences
of expansive soils can be found in all of the soil categories shown on this
map.

Why Do These Soils Expand?

Soils are composed of a variety of materials, most of which do not expand in the presence of moisture.
However, a number of clay minerals are expansive. These include: smectite, bentonite, montmorillonite,
beidellite, vermiculite, attapulgite, nontronite, illite and chlorite. There are also some sulfate salts
that will expand with changes in temperature.
When a soil contains a large amount of expansive minerals it has the potential of significant expansion.
When the soil contains very little expansive minerals it has little expansive potential.

Changes in Moisture Content Trigger Damage

When expansive soils are present they will generally not cause a problem if their water content
remains constant. The situation where greatest damage occurs is when there are significant or repeated
moisture content changes.

The Bottom Line

It is possible to build successfully and safely on expansive soils
if stable moisture content can be maintained or if the building can be insulated from any soil volume
change that occurs. The procedure for success is as follows: